Where Do Online Data Storage Providers Actually Store The Data

With a rise of multimedia files like videos, photographs and presentations, there has been a significant increase in file sizes. The standard storage that comes with a PC is no longer sufficient. Online storage providers have stood up to address this need by offering space in a cloud environment where documents of all types and sizes can be stored. Some have a specific focus i.e. to store digital pictures or web-email messages while there are others to store all forms of digital data.

There exists a mix of cloud storage systems handling a variety of operations. Some operations require equipment that fills up the entire data center.

- A cloud storage system needs a single data server connected to the internet. Any subscriber or client sends copies of files to the data server via internet. The server then records this information. When the client is willing to extract the information, he/she can access the data server via a web-based interface. The file is then either sent back to the client or the client is allowed to access and manipulate the file on the server itself.

- Cloud storage systems usually rely on many data servers. As computers do require maintenance or repair occasionally, it is vital to use multiple machines to store the same information. Hence redundancy is required to ensure clients that information is at their disposal at any given time from anywhere.

- It is a smart move to store the same data on the servers using different power supplies. This allows clients to access their data even if there is a power failure in one of the supplies.

Therefore, service providers use cloud storage to create backups of data which could be used in case something goes wrong in client's computer system.